Artist&#39;s kit



Dec. 27, 1955 E. K. GUTHRIE ARTIST'S KIT Filed Dec. 20, 1954 INVENTOR.EDGAR K. GUTHRIE ATTORNEY nited States This invention relates to theproduction of likenesses of objects, both animate and inanimate,including portraits, landscapes, architecture, and the like, and moreparticularly to the equipment employed by artists in producing oilpaintings of such likenesses.

Artists ordinarily use a palette with brushes and oil paints in paintingor producing a picture on a canvas or other background. Oil paints ofthis character are normally dispensed in individual collapsible tubeswith removable screw caps and are relatively expensive. These paints dryor set up upon exposure to air and not only must the tubes be keptclosed and all paint removed from the palette when painting isdiscontinued but when the screw caps are in place after a period of timeit is necessary to apply heat in order to soften the paint sufficientlyto permit the caps to be unscrewed and removed.

It has been customary to discard tubes from which only a small amount ofpaint had been removed and to scrape the palette clean of paint or todiscard the palette. Also it has been customary to clean the paintbrushes after each use, notwithstanding the fact that at such time it isless convenient because of fatigue, shortness of time, and for otherreasons.

When painting is resumed after a lapse of time it is desirable tocontinue with certain color combinations. This has presented a greatproblem because the palette had been cleaned or discarded, or else thepaint was hard or had a skin. Also, existing equipment of this characteris complicated, expensive, cumbersome, heavy, unwieldy and does notinclude a palette immediately available for use with or without paintthereon, or that can be folded for compactness or contained in a compactpackage for storage or transportation. Likewise they are devoid of anymeans to prevent rapid drying or setting up of the paint.

Equipment available at the present time includes a kit containing amongother things a raw Wood palette which requires substantial treatment inorder to place it in satisfactory condition for use. It also includestubes of paint, containers of oil and turpentine, brushes, paletteknives, and the like, some of which are not needed or desired, and,consequently, are of no use, but which must be purchased in order toobtain the desired articles. There does not appear on the market acarrying case with a palette which is instantly available for use, orwhich can be stored within the container along with certain articles.

It is an object of the invention to overcome the difiiculties aboveenumerated and to provide a relatively simple, inexpensive, light-weightkit which can be readily assembled in compact form and used at a momentsnotice and with which a substance is employed which does not causeinjury to the container and articles with which it comes in contact butwhich will maintain the paint, whether on the palette and brushes or inthe tubes, in soft condition so that the caps of the tubes may be easilyremoved and the paint may readily be applied.

Another object of the invention is to provide an artists kit, includinga container or envelope, a foldable palette,

tubes of paints, paint brushes, a palette knife, an antiskinning agent,and which envelope and the surfaces of the palette are impervious to thepassage of vapor, with the anti-skinning agent in the form of a smallspray receptacle containing a liquid which can be sprayed into theinterior of the envelope and then the receptacle placed in the envelopeto maintain the proper condition therein or alternately a substance maybe provided which can be saturated to maintain the proper conditiontherein, the envelope or carrying case being closed by a relativelytight closure such as a plastic zipper.

Another object of the invention is to provide a palette of two halveswhich can be folded together for carrying or when not in use, and whichcan be held in extended position by such holding means which serve alsoas mixing cups.

Another object of the invention is to provide a palette of the characterindicated having differently colored surfaces, for example, brown on oneside and white on the other, in order that those who prefer may mixpaints on either the white or the brown surfaces, as well as a palettewith surfaces of plastic, which plastic coatings also form a hingeconnecting the sections of the palette.

Another object of the invention is to provide an artists kit including acase and an anti-skinning agent in fluid form, such as, for example,tripentaerythritol and polyhydric alcohols.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a foldable palette and a clip with mixing cupsholding the parts of the palette in extended position;

Fig. 2, a front elevation of the palette and mixing cups, with thepalette folded;

Fig. 3, a rear elevation thereof;

Fig. 4, an end view thereof;

Fig. 5, a fragmentary transverse section of the palette hinge withplastic covering the sections and forming connecting hinges;

Fig. 6, a perspective showing the manner of placing the palette in thecarrying case;

Fig. 7, end elevation of the kit showing the manner of using theanti-skinning fluid; and

Fig. 8, a side elevation illustrating the manner in which the device maybe carried.

Briefly stated, the invention comprises an artists kit including acarrying case, preferably of flexible material and in the form of anenvelope having an opening along its upper portion closed by a zipper,such carrying case being of a durable substance and having on itsinterior a surface or lining impervious to the chemical substances ofpaints and an anti-skinning agent adapted to be contained therein,within the case along the lower'portion of one side wall is located apartition which provides pockets for holding tubes of paint and acontainer for an anti-skinning agent, and along the lower portion of theother side wall is a second partition which provides a pocket forbrushes and a palette knife, and with the space between the pocketforming partitions of a size to accommodate the palette in folded orcollapsed condition, such palette being formed of a pair of halfsections with a plastic covering over both and forming a hingeconnecting them. A combination holder is provided which includes mixingcup and clip structure by means of which the holder is fastened over thepalette and serves to mount the device on the palette and to hold thelatter in flat extended position and also to maintain the sections ofthe palette sufficiently spaced that the paint on one of the sectionswill not come in contact with that on the other when the palette is infolded position. A spraytype container of anti-skinning fluid isprovided so that the fluid can be sprayed into the carrying case whilethe zipper is substantially closed and thereafter the zipper may becompletely closed, so that the substance will be retained Within thecarrying case, thus keeping paints on the palette, in the brushes, andwithin the screw caps soft so that the caps may be removed and thearticles instantly available for use. After a lapse of time, it may bedesirable to spray the anti-skinning agent into the container again, inorder to maintain the contents thereof in usable condition.

With continued reference to the drawing, the palette of the presentinvention comprises half sections iii and 11 with the former having anopening 712 for the thumb and an end 13 of a contour to accommodate thefingers of the user.

The palette is provided with spaced coatings M and 15 of plastic (Fig.which form a flexible hinge 16 permitting the sections of the palette tobe folded in substantially parallel relation as shown in Fig. 2, or inextended position as shown in Fig. 1. sistant to paint and chemicalsubstances employed in painting, but is preferably of a plasticsufficiently durable to withstand the treatment to which it issubjected, one .side of the palette preferably being white and one sidebrown to permit those who prefer to mix paints on white or brownbackgrounds to use the side of their preference.

The mixing cups 17 have a substantially U-shaped clip 18 which fits overthe edge of the palette, such clip 18 being of sufficient width tooverlie a substantial amount of each half-section of the palette whenapplied over the joint as illustrated in Fig. 1. However, when thepalette is folded the mixing cups :are placed over the central portionof the longitudinal edge of the section 11 of the palette, in order thatthe two halves of the palette and 11 may be prevented from coming incontact with each other and causing undesirable blending of the paints.

A carrying case is provided in the form of an envelope 19 having azipper-closed opening 23 with an operating member 21, such envelopepreferably being composed of a resistant flexible fabric with a plasticlining capable of withstanding the chemical action of anti-skinningagent and paints employed and placed therein, such envelope having apartition 22 along the lower portion of one of its sides attached at aseries of locations along its length to provide pockets for tubes ofpaint 23, and a container for an anti-skinning agent or the like, suchtubes of paint 23 having screw-threaded caps 24 and the container forthe anti-skinning agent being of any desired character, for example, inthe form of a plastic flask 25 with a spray head 26, the anti-skinningagent being tripentaerythritol and polyhydric alcohols, so that theproper conditions of vapor may be maintained within the case,eliminating the necessity for supplying heat for removing the screw capsof the tubes of paint. A partition 27 is provided along the lowerportion of the opposite side of the case providing an upwardly openpocket for brushes, palette knives and the like, articles 23. Theconstruction described provides an area 29 between the pockets along thesides of the case for holding the palette, paint 30 thereon and themixing cups, so that they will be maintained readily available for use.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the present inventionprovides a carrying case, a palette, a combination mixing cup and clipstructure which performs the multiple functions of mixing, ofmaintaining the palette in extended operative position, and ofmaintaining the sections of the palette sufiiciently spaced that thepaint on one of the sections will not come in contact with that on theother when the palette is in folded position. Further, the inventionprovides for the accommodation of tubes of paint, brushes, palette knifeand antiskinning agent and a container therefor so that such agentrmaybe expelled as a vapor into the carrying case to maintain the paletteand the paint instantly available for .use, the carrying case providinga tight closure with This plastic is rean adjustable closure member sothat the anti-skinning agent can be injected and then the closuretightly sealed to retain the vapor within the case and the contentsmaintained in proper condition for a substantial period of time.

It will also be understood that at least two methods can be used inapplying and maintaining the vapor of the anti-skinning agent within theenvelope. One method would include the use of a light spray from aspray-type container and subsequent storage of this container within theenvelope, it'being understood of course that the container should beequipped with a head or cap with or without a valve but of a characterto prevent accidental or excessive discharge of the contents of thecontainer while it is within the carrying case other than what isnecessary for maintaining the proper vapor content which is desired tobe maintained at least until the contents of the spraytype container areexpended.

Another, less expensive, method would be to use an ordinary small jarfor the anti-skinning agent and a mouth-type atomizer such as artistsuse for spraying fixative, and spraying a light mist coat over theinterior of the case, thereafter placing the atomizer and the jar orcontainer in the envelope with perhaps a small cloth or sponge saturatedwith the anti-skinning agent in order to maintm'n sufficient vaporwithin the envelope for an extended period, after which time the methodcould be repeated.

In either case the amount of spray will be determined by the conditionof the paint. it is understood, of course, that the anti-skinning agentis not to be mixed directly with the paint, since this would tend tocause the paint to run on the palette as well as retard the drying ofthe paint when applied to canvas.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in the invention Without departing from the spirit and scopethereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which isillustrated in the drawing and described in the specification, but onlyas indicated in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An artists kit including a flexible carrying case for articles usedin oil painting, said case having an opening affording access to theinterior of said case and closure means for said opening, said casehaving a vaporimpervious lining forming a barrier for the passage ofvapor between the interior and exterior of the case when the latter isclosed, said opening and closure means therefor being constructed toprovide an opening of variable size so that articles may be placedtherein and the opening made relatively small, an anti-skinning agentadapted to be introduced through said opening in the form of a spray andthereafter the opening closed to retain such agent within the case andto keep paint exposed within the case in readily usable condition, saidcase having a partition along the lower portion of one side for holdingtubes of paint and having a partition along the lower portion of theopposite side for holding brushes and a palette knife, and with spacebetween such partitions for the accommodation ofa palette'in foldedcondition and a palette forming a part of said kit, said pallettecomprising a pair of sections with a moisture-impervious covering overexterior surface thereof and forming a flexible hinge between saidpalette halves, and mixing cup structure constructed to clip onto saidpalette and to be located over the joint between the sections thereofand hold such sections in extended position and also :to maintain thesections of the palette sutl'iciently spaced that the paint on one ofthe sections will not come in contact with that on the otherwhen-the-palette is in folded position.

2. An artists kit including a flexible carrying case for articles usedin oil painting, said case having an opening affording access to theinterior of said case and closure means for said opening, said casehaving a vapor-impervious lining forming a barrier for the passage ofvapor between the interior and exterior of the case when the latter isclosed, said opening and closure means therefor being constructed toprovide an opening at variable size so that articles may be placedtherein and the opening made relatively small, an anti-skinning agentadapted to be introduced through said opening in the form of a spray andthereafter the opening closed to retain such agent within the case andto keep paint exposed within the case in readily usable condition, saidcase having a partition along the lower portion of one side for holdingtubes of paint and having a partition along the lower portion of theopposite side for holding brushes and a palette knife, and with spacebetween such partitions for the accommodation of a palette in foldedcondition and a palette forming a part to said kit, said palettecomprising a pair of sections and a moisture-impen'ious covering overexterior surface thereof and forming a flexible hinge between saidpalette halves.

3. An artists kit comprising a flexible carrying case for articles usedin oil painting, said carrying case having an opening affording accessto its interior and closure means for closing said opening constructedto provide an opening of variable size, said carrying case beingsubstantially moisture-proof whereby vapor may not pass between theinterior and the ex erior, an anti-skinning a ent for use within saidcarrying case to maintain the contents relatively soft and usable, oilpainting equipment including a palette for location within said carryingcase,

said palette being foldable, and mixing cup and clip structure forattachment to said palette and constructed to overlie the joint between.sections of the palette for maintaining such sections in extendedoperative relation and also to maintain the sections of the palettesuificiently spaced that the paint on one of the sections will not comein contact with that on the other when the palette is in foldedposition.

4. An artists kit including a carrying case for articles used in oilpainting, said case having an opening affording access to the interiorof said case and closure means for said opening, said case beingsubstantially vapor impervious when closed thereby substantially barringthe passage of vapor between the interior and the exterior thereof andcontaining oil painting equipment including articles having paintremains thereon, an anti-skinning agent adapted to be introduced intosaid case, said anti-skinning agent remaining in the closed case as avapor for maintaining exposed paint soft and usable during periods ofnon-use.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS424,603 Favor Apr. 1, 1890 FOREIGN PATENTS 310,276 Germany Jan. 6, 1919

